Suriname has made history with the election of Jennifer Simons as its first female president, following a decisive vote by the National Assembly on Sunday. The former parliamentary speaker and physician now steps into leadership at a critical time, as the country prepares for a predicted oil boom expected to reshape its economy.
Simons, 71, was elected through Suriname’s indirect system, where the National Assembly chooses the president after general elections. Her appointment follows a tightly contested May 25 parliamentary election that saw her opposition National Democratic Party (NDP) secure 18 seats, narrowly edging out incumbent President Chan Santokhi’s Progressive Reform Party (VHP), which won 17 seats. Smaller parties won the remaining 16 seats, leading to a six-party coalition deal that cleared the way for Simons’ presidency.
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“I come into this office to serve, and I will use all my knowledge, strength, and insight to make our wealth available to all of our people,” Simons said in a brief but emotional address to lawmakers, who greeted her election with resounding applause. She pledged to focus on youth development and on communities that have historically lacked access to opportunity.
“I am very aware of the responsibility now placed on our shoulders, a responsibility compounded for me by the fact that I am the first woman to hold this office,” she added. “I do not need many words. My thanks—and we will get to work.”
Her victory marks a significant political shift for Suriname, a South American nation of just over 600,000 people that gained independence from the Netherlands in 1975. Simons’ ascent to the presidency comes as Suriname stands on the cusp of an energy windfall, with its first major offshore oil project, led by TotalEnergies, expected to begin production in 2028. Known as the Gran Morgu project, the reserves have the potential to position Suriname alongside neighboring Guyana, whose economy expanded by more than 43 percent last year due to similar developments.
Despite the looming oil boom, the 2025 campaign was notably quiet on policy details concerning the expected revenues or their management. Simons, however, has committed herself to inclusive development and equitable distribution of future wealth.
Outgoing President Chan Santokhi, 66, a former police commissioner who led the country since 2020, acknowledged his shortcomings in office and offered congratulations to his successor. “I take responsibility for my failings and hope to be remembered for my commitment,” he said, pledging to continue serving in parliament after leaving the presidency.
Simons is a long-standing figure in Surinamese politics. She served as Speaker of the National Assembly for a decade until 2020 and secured the second-highest number of votes in the recent election, with over 41,700 ballots cast in her favor. Her vice president will be Gregory Rusland, leader of the National Party of Suriname (NPS), as part of the coalition agreement.
She now heads the NDP, the party founded by the late former President Desi Bouterse, who ruled Suriname for much of its post-independence era. Bouterse died a fugitive in 2024, after his conviction for the 1982 executions of 15 political opponents was upheld. He passed away on Christmas Eve at the age of 79, in an undisclosed location.
Simons’ inauguration is set for July 16, 2025. Her presidency is expected to usher in a new era of leadership and transformation for Suriname, with hopes high for responsible governance, economic reform, and greater inclusivity in the years ahead.
